Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A conferencing method, comprising: receiving a join-us request from a first user that is currently engaged in a communication session with a second user, wherein an intended recipient of the join-us request is a third user, and wherein the communication session is established over a telecommunication network; transmitting the received join-us request over the telecommunication network to the third user as a call from the first user to the third user; allowing the first user to engage in the communication session with the second user before the third user responds to the join-us request; subscribing to ongoing state information for the communication session; determining that an ongoing state of the communication session has changed from a first state to a second different state; and altering the join-us request to reflect the change in the ongoing state of the communication session.
A conferencing method allows a user (User A) in an ongoing call with User B to invite User C to join. User A sends a "join-us" request, which is delivered to User C as a call invitation via the telecommunications network. User A and User B can continue their call while User C is considering the invite. The system monitors the call status between User A and User B (e.g., active, ended). If the call status changes, the "join-us" request sent to User C is updated to reflect this new status (e.g., indicating the original call has ended).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intended recipient of the join-us request further comprises at least a fourth user, the method further comprising: transmitting the join-us request to the at least a fourth user as a call from the first user to the fourth user; and selectively connecting the third user and the at least a fourth user to the communication session based on their respective response to the join-us request.
The conferencing method, where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, is extended to also invite User D (and potentially more users). The "join-us" request is simultaneously sent to both User C and User D as call invitations. The system selectively connects Users C and D to the existing call between User A and User B, depending on whether they accept the "join-us" request. This allows for multiple potential participants to be invited to the conference call.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: retrieving dialog information related to the communication session; and including the dialog information in the join-us request.
The conferencing method where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, includes retrieving relevant information about the ongoing call between User A and User B and adding it to the "join-us" request sent to User C. This information provides context for User C, potentially influencing their decision to join the call. The information is attached to the call invite.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: storing the dialog information in a call log associated with the third user; subscribing, by a communication device associated with the third user, to dialog events of the communication session; generating a join-us response input; and displaying the join-us response input on the communication device associated with the third user.
The conferencing method, where User A invites User C to join their call with User B and includes dialog information in the "join-us" request, involves storing this dialog information in User C's call log. User C's device subscribes to updates on the ongoing call between User A and User B, receiving notifications about changes. User C's device then displays a "join-us" response option (e.g., a button) based on the received information, allowing User C to easily accept or decline the invitation.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising: determining that the third user has selected the join-us response input; determining a state of the communication session; and initiating a call from the third user to the first user, wherein the communication session is determined to be in an active state and wherein the dialog information is used to initiate the call from the third user to the first user.
The conferencing method where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, stores dialog information, and provides a join-us response input, further specifies that if User C selects the "join-us" option, the system checks the current status of the call between User A and User B. If the call is still active, User C's device initiates a call back to User A, using the stored dialog information (e.g., conference bridge number, participant code) to automatically connect User C to the ongoing session.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein dialog information comprises at least one of bridge identification information, a participant code, a password, contact information associated with the first user, information related to at least one of the first and second participant, and contact information associated with the second user.
In the conferencing method where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, the "dialog information" included in the join-us request encompasses various details about the session. This includes, but is not limited to, the conference bridge identification, participant codes, passwords, User A's contact information, information about Users A and B, and User B's contact information. This provides User C with all necessary information to join the call.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a response to the join-us request from the third user; determining whether the communication session is in an active state; and preparing a communication from the third user to the first user and conditioning the communication based on the determination of whether the communication session is in an active state.
The conferencing method, where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, includes User C responding to the "join-us" request. The system checks the status of the call between User A and User B (active or ended). Based on this status, the system prepares a communication from User C back to User A. If the call is active, it prepares to connect User C; if not, it might send a message indicating the call has ended.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: alerting the third user with a specialized alert that indicates to the third user that the incoming call is a join-us request.
The conferencing method, where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, involves alerting User C with a distinctive notification that specifically identifies the incoming call as a "join-us" request. This specialized alert differentiates the invitation from a standard incoming call, informing User C that someone wants them to join an existing conversation.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: determining that a coverage timer has fired for the third user; sending the join-us request to coverage; and conditioning possible response options to the join-us request based on the type of coverage to which the join-us request has been sent.
The conferencing method, where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, includes scenarios where User C doesn't immediately answer. If a predefined "coverage timer" expires for User C, the "join-us" request is forwarded to a coverage destination (e.g., another phone, voicemail). The possible actions User C can take in response to the "join-us" request are then modified based on the type of coverage the request was sent to.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the coverage type comprises voicemail and wherein the dialog information is captured and stored in voicemail, the method further comprising: bridging the third user to voicemail; receiving a response to the join-us request from the third user; and joining the third user to the communication session with at least one of an entry tone and recorded name, wherein the voicemail provides the at least one of an entry tone and recorded name as the third user joins the communication session.
In the conferencing method where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, the "join-us" request is sent to voicemail after a timeout, and the dialog information is stored within the voicemail message. If User C later retrieves the voicemail and responds to the "join-us" request, the system bridges User C into the ongoing call (or connects them if the call is still active) with a pre-recorded entry tone or announcement of User C's name, provided by the voicemail system.
11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising processor executable instruction operable to perform the method of claim 1 .
A non-transitory computer-readable medium contains instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of: receiving a "join-us" request from User A currently in a call with User B to invite User C; sending the request to User C as a call; allowing User A and User B to continue talking before User C answers; monitoring the call status; and updating the "join-us" request based on call status changes (e.g., from active to ended).
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the on-going state of the communication session is one of active or ended.
In the conferencing method where User A invites User C to join their call with User B and monitors the call's status, the ongoing state of the communication session between User A and User B is specifically either "active" (the call is in progress) or "ended" (the call has been disconnected). The system monitors these two states to update the "join-us" request appropriately.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altering is altering a call log content of the join-us request.
In the conferencing method where User A invites User C to join their call with User B and the system updates the join-us request according to call state, the updating action specifically involves altering the content of the call log associated with the "join-us" request. This ensures that the information displayed to the invited user accurately reflects the current status of the original call.
14. A first communication device associated with a first user, the first communication device configured to connect with a second communication device associated with a second user thereby establishing a communication session between the first and second users, the first communication device being further configured to receive a join-us request from the first user that is currently engaged in the communication session, transmit the received join-us request as a call to a third communication device associated with a third user, and allow the first user to engage in the communication session before the third user responds to the join-us request, wherein the third communication device is further operable to subscribe to ongoing state information for the communication session, determine that an ongoing state of the communication session has changed from a first state to a second different state, and in response to making such a determination, alter the join-us request to reflect the change in the ongoing state of the communication session.
A communication system includes devices for User A, User B, and User C. User A's device, connected to User B's device in a call, allows User A to send a "join-us" request to User C's device. User C's device receives this as a call invitation. User A and User B can continue their conversation while User C decides. User C's device monitors the call between User A and User B. If that call's status changes (e.g., from active to ended), User C's device updates the "join-us" request to reflect the change.
15. The devices of claim 14 , wherein an intended recipient of the join-us request further comprises at least a fourth user, and wherein the first communication device is further operable to transmit the join-us request to the at least a fourth user while simultaneously transmitting the join-us request to the third user.
The communication system where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, includes the option to also invite User D (and potentially more users). User A's device sends the "join-us" request simultaneously to User C's device and User D's device. This enables multiple potential participants to be invited to join the conference call concurrently.
16. The devices of claim 14 , wherein the first communication device is further operable to retrieve dialog information related to the communication session, and include the dialog information in the join-us request.
In the communication system where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, User A's device retrieves relevant information about the ongoing call between User A and User B and adds it to the "join-us" request sent to User C's device. This provides User C with context to decide whether to join, directly in the call invite on User C's device.
17. The devices of claim 16 , wherein the dialog information is stored in a call log associated with the third user that allows the third communication device to subscribe to dialog events of the communication session.
The communication system, where User A invites User C to join their call with User B and includes dialog information in the "join-us" request, stores this dialog information in User C's call log. User C's device can subscribe to updates related to the ongoing call between User A and User B directly via the call log, receiving notifications about changes in status or other relevant events.
18. The devices of claim 17 , wherein during subscription to the dialog events, the third communication device is operable to determine that the third user has selected the join-us response input, determine a state of the communication session, and initiate a call to the first user, wherein the communication session is determined to be in an active state and wherein the dialog information is used to initiate the call from the third user to the first user.
The communication system, where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, and User C subscribes to call events through the call log, specifies that if User C selects the "join-us" option on their device, the system checks the call's status. If the call is active, User C's device initiates a call back to User A's device, using stored dialog information to connect User C to the active call between User A and B.
19. The devices of claim 16 , wherein dialog information comprises at least one of bridge identification information, a participant code, a password, contact information associated with the first user, information related to at least one of the first and second participant, and contact information associated with the second user.
In the communication system where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, the "dialog information" included in the "join-us" request contains details such as: the conference bridge ID, participant codes, passwords, User A's contact details, details of Users A and B, and User B's contact information. This provides User C with the necessary information to join.
20. The devices of claim 14 , wherein the third communication device is further operable to receive a response to the join-us request from the third user, determine whether the communication session is in an active state, and prepare a communication to the first user and condition the communication based on the determination of whether the communication session is in an active state.
The communication system, where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, User C's device receives a response from User C, determines if the call is active, and prepares a communication to User A. The type of communication is based on whether the call is active or not (e.g., connect to active call, send a message that call ended).
21. The devices of claim 14 , wherein the first communication device is further operable to prepare a specialized alert for the third user that indicates to the third user that the incoming call is a join-us request.
In the communication system where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, User A's device creates a specialized notification on User C's device indicating that the incoming call is a "join-us" request. This specialized alert distinguishes the invitation from a standard call, informing User C that someone wants them to join an existing conversation.
22. The devices of claim 14 , wherein after a coverage timer has fired for the third user the join-us request is sent to coverage and possible response options to the join-us request are conditioned based on the type of coverage to which the join-us request has been sent.
In the communication system where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, if User C doesn't immediately answer, and a "coverage timer" expires, the "join-us" request is forwarded. The actions User C can take related to the "join-us" request are modified based on the coverage destination.
23. The devices of claim 22 , wherein the coverage type comprises voicemail and wherein the dialog information is captured and stored in voicemail such that the third communication device is bridged to voicemail when a response to the join-us request is received from the third user.
The communication system, where User A invites User C to join their call with User B, and the "join-us" request is sent to voicemail after a timeout, captures and stores the dialog information within the voicemail message. When User C retrieves the voicemail and responds, User C's device is bridged to voicemail.
24. The devices of claim 14 , wherein the on-going state of the communication session is one of active or ended.
In the communication system where User A invites User C to join their call with User B and monitors the call's status, the state of the call between User A and User B is either "active" (the call is ongoing) or "ended" (the call has been disconnected). The system tracks these two states to appropriately update the join-us request.
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October 28, 2014
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